Laura Gober Fishing

As a Professional Angler fishing the Women’s Bassmaster Tour, I am always looking for ways to stretch my tournament dollars while on the road. With the price of fuel driving up the prices of everything else it can be difficult. Whether you are a weekend tournament angler or a professional angler traveling the country the following money saving tips may help you get to your next tournament.

TRAVEL

Go Camping. This year was my first year to camp and I would not trade it for anything. Not only have I saved hundreds if not more than a thousand dollars already, the convenience of my boat being right there close has saved me time and I have met lots of nice folks that I will remember forever.
Get a roommate/travel partner. With gas at over $4.00 a gallon it helps to have someone to share the expense with. The ideal situation is to find a co-angler that is fishing the same Trail as you. Then you could possibly have a practice partner to share expenses with too.
Eat in. There is not a town I have been to that doesn’t have a grocery store. If you decide not to camp, there are many hotels that have small refrigerators and microwaves. A cooler works too.
Ask for a discount. Most hotels as well as campgrounds offer discounts for AAA, AARP, Military, etc. You just have to ask.

FINANCE

Cash in those credit card points. If you use a credit card, shop around for one that has a low interest rate and rewards points that will benefit you. I have a credit card that pays you double if you apply your points toward travel. Remember you should always try to pay off your balances monthly so you don’t incur unwanted debt.
Join a credit union. Many times credit unions have much lower interest rates on vehicle loans and boat loans. This will allow you to pay more towards principal and less towards interest. Check out www.findacreditunion.com for help with finding a credit union you can join.
Get sponsors. This is one of the more challenging ways to save money. If you are willing to work hard to promote a particular company and help them with sales, you will be rewarded with discounted product, free product and in some cases money if you are really good.

TACKLE

Back fill your spools. I will spool my spinning reels with braid putting a fluorocarbon leader. As I go to lakes with different water clarities all that needs to be changed is the leader. This saves on the amount of line you need to buy. You can do this with bait casting reels too.
Swap lures. Sponsors want you to sell their product. You can introduce a fellow angler to your sponsor’s product by letting them try it out. Suggest swapping a lure with them. That way you get to try something new and so do they without spending a dime.

MISCELLANEOUS

Slow down. As a tournament angler I know how it is to race to your first fishing spot. Racing around uses more gas and oil. Save your racing for the tournament days and slow down in practice.